Will restructure development plan on FSI rate if needed: Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai: Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray today sought to distance his party from a controversial provision in the city's draft Development Plan, which proposes a substantial hike in the Floor Space Index (FSI).

Uddhav Thackeray

He said the plan will be "thrown into dustbin" if it does injustice to the citizens. Thackeray also suggested "restructuring" of the plan, prepared by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) controlled by Shiv Sena and BJP, on the aspect of FSI rate at which homes are sold to people in the space-starved city.

"If people are under impression that the plan has been developed by Shiv Sena and not beneficial to them they are mistaken. If anybody thinks this is true then he has the zero knowledge of the municipal corporation.

"This plan was constituted by a special committee of BMC. If we had prepared this plan, we would not be opposing certain provisions of it. If this plan is indeed doing injustice to the people of Mumbai, it will be thrown into the dustbin," he told reporters here.

BMC has proposed to hike FSI in city up to eight, which would mean that construction up to eight times the plot size would be permissible in certain areas. FSI is a development tool that defines the extent of construction permissible on a plot. It is the ratio of built-up area to total plot size.

Thackeray's comments assumed significance as the roadmap has been drafted under the guidance of the Urban Development Department headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of BJP. Shiv Sena is a junior partner in the alliance government headed by BJP.

Thackeray held a meeting with functionaries and legislators of his party here today to understand the nitty-gritty of the plan and the way Mumbai would shape up if it was to be implemented.

"If we develop Mumbai according to this plan, the city will become an FSI jungle. Only increasing FSI will not matter much to the common man who is unable to afford homes today.

What matters is the FSI rate at which homes are sold. The plan needs restructuring on this aspect," he said. While Congress in the House has opposed the "phenomenal" increase in FSI, the party's new Mumbai unit Chief Sanjay Nirupam has come out in its support.